REBELS fighting Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi looked set to defy a punishing aerial and artillery bombardment to stage a last stand last night.

They were forced to retreat to the town of Ajdabiya in the east, while an uneasy calm reigned in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city. Earlier, rebel forces pulled out of the oil town of Brega and the port of Ras Lanuf where government tanks and planes attacked forces armed only with light weapons and machine guns.

Rebel Abdel Hadi Omar said: “The Libyan people need help.

“We’re in danger. The Libyan people can’t cope with ­Gaddafi’s weapons. We have people but we don’t have means.”

In Brega, a poster celebrating the eastern city’s uprising had been replaced by a poster of Gaddafi, and several locals said they would welcome the arrival of Gaddafi forces out of self-preservation rather than loyalty.

But, despite seemingly gaining the upper hand, some believe Gaddafi could find himself entrenched in a long-running guerilla war. “We don’t care how long it takes, five years or 10 years. The gate has been opened,” said Bashir Warshfani, 30. “If I die my brother takes my place, if he dies, my neighbour. Gaddafi will only get this country when he kills us all,” he said, lifting his shirt to show his bullet wounds.

Fresh hope came to the rebels from the town of Misurata where a government assault was halted after a mutiny and gunfight between troops loyal to Gaddafi and those who wanted to switch sides.

The force preparing to attack Misurata, the 32nd Brigade commanded by ­Gaddafi’s son Khamis, is according to analysts, the best force available to the Libyan leader.

Production of crude oil has fallen hugely as workers have fled and battles have damaged installations.

Output is down to a third of its usual 1.6 million barrels a day.

Yesterday France joined the Arab League’s call for a no-fly zone over the country.